It is impossible for any reader, whether Protestant or Catholic, not to admire the frankness and candor, the honest conscientiousness, the courage, and, at the same time, womanly modesty and propriety which characterize this reply. CHAPTER V. RETURN TO SCOTLAND. 1561 Calais.--Artificial piers and breakwaters.--Throckmorton.--Elizabeth's plans.--Throckmorton baffled.--Throckmorton's advice.--Queen Catharine's farewell.--Escort.--Embarkation.--Spectators.--Unfortunate accident.--Mary's farewell to France.--Her deep emotion.--Mary's first night on board.--Her reluctance to leave France.--Fog.--One vessel captured.--Narrow escape.--Mary's Adieu to France.--Attempts to translate it.--Translations of Mary's Adieu to France.--Arrival at Leith.--Palace of Holyrood.--Mary's arrival unexpected.--Mary's reception.--Contrasts.--The cavalcade.--Serenade.--Solitary home.--Favorable impression.--The Lord James.--Mary makes him one of her ministers.--The mass.--Transubstantiation.--Adoration of the host.--Protestant and Catholic worship.--Violence and persecution.--The mass in Mary's chapel.--Scene of excitement.--Lord James.--The reformer, John Knox.--His uncompromising character.--Knox's interview with Mary.--His sternness subdued.--The four Maries.--Queen Elizabeth's insincerity. Mary was to sail from the port of Calais. Calais is on the northern coast of France, opposite to Dover in England, these towns being on opposite sides of the Straits of Dover, where the channel between England and France is very narrow. Still, the distance is so great that the land on either side is ordinarily not visible on the other. There is no good natural harbor at Calais, nor, in fact, at any other point on the French coast. The French have had to supply the deficiency by artificial piers and breakwaters. There are several very capacious and excellent harbors on the English side. This may have been one cause, among others, of the great naval superiority which England has attained. When Queen Elizabeth found that Mary was going to persevere in her intention of returning to her native land, she feared that she might, after her arrival in Scotland, and after getting established in power there, form a scheme for making war upon _her_ dominions, and attempt to carry into effect her claim upon the English crown. She wished to prevent this. Would it be prudent to intercept Mary upon her passage? She reflected on this subject with the cautious calculation which formed so striking a part of her character, and felt in doubt. Her taking Mary a prisoner, and confining her a captive in her own land, might incense Queen Catharine, who was now regent of France, and also awaken a general resentment in Scotland, so as to bring upon her the hostility of those two countries, and thus, perhaps, make more mischief than the securing of Mary's person would prevent.